Reflector button and holding means therefor



May 17, 1932. J. R. WALD 1,858,382

REFLECTOR BUTTON AND HOLDING MEANSv THEREFOR Filed Oct. l0, 1930 [Nl/ENTOR JUHN E WHLD.

A TTOEY Patented May 17, 1932 refrein*- oFFlcE i JOHN'- R. WALD, 0F HUNTINGDN, PENNSYLVANIA yamenazaron BUr'roN AND HOLDING MEANSfrlniiuimfon.

Application filed October 10, 1930. Serial No. 487,641.

This' invention relates to reflecting signs, and more especially to a reflector button and a holding means therefor applied to a sign.

An object of the invention is to provide a reflector button of a specific shape adapting it to he readily held in position in a reflecting sign of the type used alone* roadways to be illuminated by the headlights of passing automobiles. f

Another object is to provide a simple an effective means :for holding such reflector but-l tons in position inthe sign.'

All these and other objects, as suggested herebelow, are attained bythe method and means now to be described,.a"nd illustrated iii the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a typical reflector button of this invention showing, in completely-assembled position,

2 the means for holding it in the sign.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the but-ton of Fig. 1, in the sign. l l

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of thebutton-holding means adapted Afor use with a button of the contour now in general use. Fig'. 4 isa side elevationalA view of the sheet-metal holding. means used in the device of Fig. 3.. Fig. 5 is a cross m vertical diametral, plane of applicats improved reflector button.

Y Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. A 35. The invention consists essentially of a reiector button cast or otherwise formed to the shape substantially as shown vin Figs. 1 and 5, and made of some light-reiecting ma;

. terial such as glass, either colored orplain. ,A cross section of the button through a plane at right angles to its longitudinal axis at any point, is circular.

The button 10,' Fig. like reflecting surface 10A, projecting outwardly from the sign 4surface or plate 11. Plate 11 is perforated with a series of holes so grranged as to form the particular letters'or 'words of the sign. A c'rmcave mirror-like reflector 12 is positioned across the lower or inner end of button 10, in the 'manner as 'shown in Fig. 1, and held in place by a sectional view through a 1, has a convexdenspressed-metal cap 13, shaped somewhat as shown. Cap 13 rests against a disc-like felt pad 14, the resiliency of which when pressed in place holds the cap onthe button-and the reflector tightly 'in proper position between them, as well as aiding in' preventing breakage due to strain or jars, as when erecting the sign or replacino the buttons. i L Surrounding each button 10 is a cylindri'.- cal-like pressed-metal container 15, tapered toward one end, as shown, to accommodate a corresponding taper of the button 10 and adapted tosurround the cap 13and having extending lugs 16 which may be'flanged over as shown, after the parts are in assembled relation, to press a disc-like cover 17 against the felt pad 414 to hold the parts `in properly assembled position. The sign-engaging end of container 15 abuts against the edges of plate 11 immediate- 70 ly Asurrounding the hole in which the container is-positioned, and a plurality of lugs 18 are adapted to pass through the hole and be clinched over on the outer surface of plate 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to prevent the assembled reflector unit from beingpushed into the sign. i

It lwill thusbe seen. by. this constructionthat button 10 may be readily and permanently fastened wlthin its container 15 by engaging in the taper of the container in-one portion and being held from dropping out, by the assemblage above disclosed, at the other end; and the completely assembled unit containing the button 10 is-then positioned 85 4through its hole in sign platell until the rimaround the top end of container 15 abuts against the inner edge ofplate 11, when lugs 18 are clinched over on the outside of the plate to holdv it firmly-in position.

In the event of breakage or other failure of the button 10, the entire unit may be .readily removedfrom" the sign and replaced with a fresh one, and afterwards the old container assemblage used again with a new 9 button. A modification utilizing the standard form f of'retlectorbutton 19 is shown in Figs. 3-and 4. Here the containeris cylinder shaped,

as shown at 20, and sign plate 11 has the surl face of each letter raised up as shown in Fig. 3, which raised surface is pierced by the holes for the various reflector buttons. The lens-like upper surface of button 19 abuts against the edge of the hole and prevents the buttons coming out through the front. The

upper edge of container 20 abuts against the cluding alens formed of tapered inwardly toward such end, and ation of the container,

inner surface of plate 11 and there are two -flanges 21-22 adapted to extend through the .cesses cut or flanges 16.

It is to be understood that the present dis-y closure is for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not limited in said container, one end of the container with its flanges being adapted to removably position the container around the aperture in said plate, and theA flanges at the other end of the container bein light reflecting unit t erein.

4. In combination, a tapered container, a second container positioned therein and point-ing in the opposite direction and having an opposite taper, and a light-reflecting member adapted to be held Within both said containers and being similarly tapered.

Signed at Huntingdon, in the county of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania, this 6th day of October, A. D. 1930.

JOHN R. WALD.

thereto. To those skilled in the art, many modifications of the invention will be readily apparent, and it will also be obvious to such skilled persons that art of the method and means may be used) without other parts thereof, many such combinations of the parts readily suggesting themselves. Therefore, it should be, and is to be distinctly understood that for a definition of thelimitations of the invention, reference must be had to the appended clains.

Having now described the invention, what is claimedas new and for which Letters Patent of the United States isdesired, is:

1. A sign comprising a flat holder and a plurality of reflecting units therein, each ina cylindricalbody of glass havin the outer en d convex and the side walls immediately adjacent thereto container for said reflecting unit adapted to hold it through en agement-of the ta ered portion thereof wit a similar tapere porone end of the container abutting the under surface of the holder and having. lugs extending therethrough and flanged over on the outer surface of said holder to retain the unit in position therein. 2. The combination in a sign of an apertured plate, light reflecting buttons in said apertures, a container around each of said A buttons and held in position in its aperture, a second container within the first and sur-v rounding the inner end portion of said button, a concave reflector positioned between the inner end of the button and the inner container, and a resilient member engaging the end of the inner container and held in position within the outer container.

3. In combination, a cylinder-like container having open ends and langable lugs, an apertured plate, a light reflecting member extending through said aperture and encased adapted to hold the' 

